Part III. Staff Qualifications and Training
8VAC20-780-180. General qualifications.
A. Staff shall be:
1. Of good character and reputation;
2. Capable of carrying out assigned responsibilities;
3. Capable of accepting training and supervision; and
4. Capable of communicating effectively both orally and in writing as applicable to the job responsibility.
B. Staff who work directly with children shall be capable of communicating with emergency personnel.
C. Staff who drive a vehicle transporting children shall disclose any moving traffic violation that occurred five years prior to or during employment or assignment as a driver.
D. For therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, staff who work with children shall have knowledge of the groups being served and skills specific to the special needs of the children in care including functional abilities, accommodations, assessment techniques, behavior management, and medical and health concerns.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-200 derived from VR175-08-01 § 3.1, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; Errata, 21:13 VA.R. 1941 March 7, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-180, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; amended and renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021; Volume 38, Issue 2, eff. October 13, 2021.
8VAC20-780-190. Program director qualifications.
A. Program directors shall be at least 21 years of age and shall meet one of the following:
1. A graduate degree in a child-related field such as elementary education, nursing, or recreation from a college or university and six months of programmatic experience;
2. An endorsement or bachelor's degree in a child-related field such as elementary education, nursing, or recreation from a college or university and one year of programmatic experience;
3. Forty-eight semester hours or 72 quarter hours of college credit from a college or university of which 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours are in child-related subjects and one year of programmatic experience;
4. Two years of programmatic experience with one year in a staff supervisory capacity and at least one of the following education backgrounds:
a. A one-year early childhood certificate from a college or university that consists of at least 30 semester hours;
b. A child development credential that requires:
(1) High school program completion or the equivalent;
(2) 480 hours working with children in a group which could include a supervised practicum;
(3) Determination of competency in promoting children's development, providing a safe and healthy environment, managing the classroom environment or childhood program, and promoting positive and productive relationships with parents or guardians; and
(4) At least 120 hours of child-related training taught by an individual or by an organization with expertise in early childhood teacher preparation provided that the training facilitator:
(a) Documents the student's mastery and competence;
(b) Observes the student's application of competence in a classroom setting;
(c) Has a combination of at least six years of education (leading to a degree or credential in a child-related field) or programmatic experience; and
(d) Has at least 12 semester hours or 180 hours in a child-related field, a child development credential or equivalent, and two years of programmatic experience with one year in a staff supervisory capacity; or
c. A certification of qualification from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization.
B. Program directors without management experience shall have one college course in a business-related field, 10 hours of management training, or one child care management course that satisfactorily covers the management functions of:
1. Planning;
2. Budgeting;
3. Staffing; and
4. Monitoring.
Management experience is defined as at least six months of on-the-job training in an administrative position that requires supervising, orienting, training, and scheduling staff.
C. For program directors of therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, education and programmatic experience shall be in the group care of children with special needs.
D. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, a person between 19 and 21 years of age may serve as a program director at a short-term program serving only school age children if the program director has daily supervisory contact by a person at least 21 years of age who meets one of the program director qualification options.
E. A program director employed prior to October 13, 2021, who met the education and experience qualifications in effect immediately prior to October 13, 2021, and who has been continuously employed as a child day center director, is considered to have met the requirements of this section.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-230 derived from VR175-08-01 § 3.4, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-190, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021; Volume 38, Issue 2, eff. October 13, 2021.
8VAC20-780-200. Program directors and back-up for program directors.
A. The center shall have a qualified program director or a qualified back-up program director who meets one of the director qualifications who shall regularly be on site at least 50% of the center's hours of operation.
B. For centers offering multiple shifts, a qualified program director or qualified back-up director shall regularly be on site at least 50% of the day shift and at least two hours during the evening shift and two hours during the night shift.
C. For centers employing one or more program leaders who are qualified under subsection C of 8VAC20-780-210 but not under subsection A of that section, the qualified program director or qualified back-up program director shall be on site at least 75% of the center's hours of operation.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-250 derived from VR175-08-01 § 3.6, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-200, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; amended and renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-780-210. Program leader qualifications.
A. Program leaders shall be at least 18 years of age, have fulfilled a high school program completion or the equivalent, and meet one of the following:
1. Have one of the program director qualifications in 8VAC20-780-190;
2. Have an endorsement or bachelor's degree in a child-related field such as, but not limited to, elementary education, nursing, or recreation, from a college or university;
3. Have three months of programmatic experience and at least one of the following education backgrounds:
a. A one year early childhood certificate from a college or university that consists of at least 30 semester hours;
b. A child development credential by an organization listed in § 22.1-289.048 of the Code of Virginia;
c. A teaching diploma from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization; or
4. Have six months of supervised programmatic experience.
a. Within six months before being promoted or beginning work or one month after being promoted or beginning work, a minimum of 12 hours of training shall be received related to the care of children, including but not limited to:
(1) Child development;
(2) Playground safety;
(3) Health and safety issues; and
(4) Preventing and reporting child abuse and neglect.
b. Such training may take place on site while not supervising children. Such training hours shall increase according to the following:
(1) Program leaders hired or promoted after June 1, 2006 | 16 hours |
(2) Program leaders hired or promoted after June 1, 2007 | 20 hours |
(3) Program leaders hired or promoted after June 1, 2008 | 24 hours |
B. For program leaders of therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, at least three months of programmatic experience shall be in the group care of children with special needs.
C. Notwithstanding the experience requirements in subsection A of this section, program leaders at short-term programs may have only one season of programmatic experience, provided that this experience shall include at least 200 hours, of which up to 24 hours can be formal training, working directly with children in a group.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-260 derived from VR175-08-01 § 3.7, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-210, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; amended and renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-780-220. Aides.
Aides shall be at least 16 years of age.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-280 derived from VR175-08-01 § 3.9, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-220, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-780-230. Independent contractors; volunteers.
A. Individuals from independent contractors shall not be counted in the staff-to-children ratios unless they meet the qualifications for the applicable position.
B. Individuals from independent contractors who do not meet staff qualifications shall, when in the presence of children, be within sight and sound supervision of a staff member.
C. Volunteers who work with children shall be at least 13 years of age.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-290 derived from VR175-08-01 § 3.10, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-230, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.